Sunday, October 09, 2005

Landphair would "rather die fat and happy" than attempt to lose weight

After reading this Voice of America column about the dichotomy between the popularity of diets and the promulgation of bigger and bigger menu items, I just had to shake my head in disappointment.

The author of the story, Ted Landphair, pens a rather pessimistic view of the future prospect of people ever losing weight in the future.

Decrying the seeming end to the "wildly popular and profitable low-carbohydrate" diet since the declaration that Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection, Landphair said the Atkins diet, the South Beach diet, and films such as Morgan Spurlock's Supersize Me taught us what to do to eat right, lose weight and keep it off, but we didn't listen.

"Eventually we admitted the truth of the matter: We cannot, and will not, give up our bread and pizza and beer," he writes.

Really? Is that what America is saying? If so, then we as a nation are in a very dangerous place. Maybe this really is the latest dieting craze after all! Lord help us all if this is indeed the case.

Landphair admits there are many who still go to the gym to workout and others are following the advice of this book that promotes eating in moderation to lose and maintain your weight. There are also tens of millions of people who are livin' la vida low-carb and finding great weight loss success on it, too.

Even still, Landphair laments, "others of us HAVE given up and given in."

"'Give us back our Whopper sandwiches and super-sized French fries,' we're saying. 'Phooey on the consequences.' Groaner breakfasts of pancakes, bacon, sausage links, hash-brown potatoes, bread, and orange juice somehow make us feel better in these treacherous times."

Landphair is trying to be funny, but I'm not laughing because I see that kind of defeatist mentality from people all the time. They have given up all hope for weight loss because it seems nothing really works. I'm sorry, but that line of reasoning is unacceptable and frankly is taking the easy way out of a situation that needs to be dealt with. If you are overweight or obese, then you know it and are the singular person responsible for doing something about it. The government can't lose weight for you and even if they could they shouldn't! YOU have to make the decision to do it for yourself.

In conclusion, Landphair said people are more content to be happy with the way they are than to continue on obsessing about their weight.

"Will this surrender of will-power end up killing us, forkful by forkful? Some say yes. Others of us say we'd rather die fat and happy than live on a weight-loss treadmill."

I couldn't disagree any more, Mr. Landphair. There is hope for lasting weight loss, but you have to be willing to invest a little time and effort to make it work. Regardless of how you do it, your life will become so much better even if you make small changes in the way you live. I did this and saw my weight drop an incredible 180 pounds in one year and I've kept that weight off for nearly another year since. If a former 410-pounder like me can have such a dramatic turnaround in his weight and health, then shouldn't that provide inspiration for others that maybe there is hope for them, too!

Fatalistic assumptions about weight loss will keep Americans from dealing with the problem of obesity. But encouraging edification from people who have overcome their own obesity issues like me can and will provide people with the spark they need to finally do something productive about their own weight and health. It's not too late. The time is now!

Send Ted Landphair an e-mail to tell him how the low-carb lifestyle is helping you take back your life while improving your health.